Chapter 236: When Hell Has Two Sides

In truth, fathers existed. But that truth didn't matter much here.

Hatake Kakashi rarely came to the women's prison. He could endure hatred from grown men without issue, but crying women and children, that he couldn't stand. It felt like something pressing tightly against his chest, so he avoided coming here whenever possible. Fortunately, with Anko gone, Tenten was here, and that made things manageable. Karin was smart too, very smart. She knew exactly what benefited the village. At least that's what Kakashi told himself.

Before Anko left, Kakashi had believed she was the biggest problem. Now he realized he had been wrong. The real problem was Neji. Hyuga Neji enjoyed removing eyes. When Anko had been here, Kakashi hadn't noticed, perhaps her methods were too loud, too chaotic to see clearly. But in hindsight, she was almost clean. Her victims usually died quickly, no prolonged suffering, no unnecessary lingering pain. She even had a strange habit, she liked destroying corpses after death, maybe that came from her background in anatomy work. So in terms of casualties, Anko actually wasn't the worst. Now Kakashi understood. The one who needed to be moved was Neji.

He checked the male prison numbers before starting his dirty work. One week. Forty three people gone. Forty three. And that didn't even include the women's side. Kakashi felt exhausted just thinking about it, exhausted enough that when Neji was training a prisoner named Fuyuto, a single kick shattered the man's leg.

Then Neji shouted coldly, "Didn't I already tell you? Behave. Obey. Beg like a dog if you have to. Why can't you understand simple words? Do I have to leave marks on your body before you remember?"

The prisoner screamed. Kakashi sighed deeply. He really is enjoying this.

"Long time no see, Kakashi sensei." Neji's voice was still gentle.

"Don't call me sensei. I never taught you anything." Kakashi replied lazily, scratching his head. He even pulled out his usual little book, unfazed. "I mean, forty three gone in a week. Aren't you having a bit too much fun?" He stood on the stone steps, watching the rain outside. Rain everywhere. Heavy rain. Light rain. Endless rain. No clear sky. Kakashi remembered this place used to have sunlight.

"So?" Kakashi asked.

"So what?" Neji replied with a calm smile. "What do you think, Kakashi?"

This guy is insane, Kakashi thought.

"I'm helping you reduce burdens. You should thank me." Neji spoke like he was offering kindness.

Kakashi closed his book. "You don't get to decide what's good for me." Then he walked into the male prison.

At mealtime, an ANBU guard was using a ladle to mock starving prisoners. Kakashi kicked the ladle away. BOOM. In the next moment, the guard was slammed headfirst into a boiling soup pot. The entire room froze. The guard struggled, choking. Kakashi pulled him out and threw him down. The man's mask was gone, just a young face now. Kakashi kicked the pot aside, soup spilling everywhere.

"Lick it clean."

Silence. The guard glared. Kakashi stepped on his face. "Not satisfied?" A beat. The answer was obvious.

Another guard rushed in. "W, what's going on?"

Kakashi stepped on his hand immediately. "Planning to lick too?"

"I, I'm sorry, senpai."

BOOM. A kick sent him flying. "Senpai my ass." Kakashi turned back. "Clean it."

Beaten, humiliated, broken, the guard obeyed. Blood, soup, dirt, all licked clean. The room stayed silent.

Later, Kakashi asked, "How did you get this injury?"

"F, from training."

Another beating. "How did you get it?"

"I, I fell myself."

"Good. Be more careful next time."

When everyone finally left, Kakashi leaned back on a bench. He exhaled slowly. This place really is hell. Not metaphorically. Literally. Neji was one side of hell. Hyuga Hinata was the other. And Kakashi was stuck between them.

That was when Tenten found him. "Sensei! Sensei!"

He didn't even open his eyes fully. "Oh, it's you. What is it?"

"It's important!" She hesitated. "Can we talk somewhere else?"

Outside, Tenten bowed deeply. "Please, move Hinata sama. Replace her with someone else. Anyone. Even Anko is fine!"

Kakashi nearly choked. "Wait, Hinata? Isn't she good?"

Tenten's voice trembled. "No. Not at all." She explained everything. Eyes. Preservation. Violence done calmly, without emotion. And worst of all, she didn't even look like she was doing something wrong.

Kakashi stayed silent for a long time. Then sighed. "Alright. Tenten, you become the supervisor."

"Eh? Me?"

"Yes. One week. Hold on for one week."

Kakashi suddenly knelt. Tenten panicked. "W, what are you doing? Please stand up!" But he held her firmly.

"Tenten. I'm only asking this once. If I don't come back, please take care of them. Karin, Shigure, Toki senpai. They didn't choose this. And if you ever meet the Akatsuki again, tell them I'm sorry. I messed everything up again." He bowed fully, forehead to the ground.

Tenten froze. When she looked up, he was already gone, riding a clay bird into the sky.

One week later, Tenten held on. Just barely. Until Hinata reached for Ajisai. That was the moment she broke.

"I'll give you mine instead." She pulled out her own right eye. No hesitation. No fear. Just resolve. Blood ran down her fingers. She didn't cry. At least not yet.

Hinata cried. "Why, why are you doing this? I don't want to hurt you."

Tenten smiled weakly. "It's okay. It's my fault."

"It's not yours." And the lie continued, softly, gently, painfully.

Until Neji stopped her. "Enough. Put her eye back. Send her back to Konoha."

But Tenten didn't want it returned. So she crushed it in her hand. Crack. Blood poured down.

Then the order came. Transfer issued. New supervisor: Tenten. Former supervisor: Hyuga Hinata, return to Konoha immediately.

Kakashi never returned.